Collapsible truck



Oct. 20, 1931. e. B. SCARLETT GOLLAPSQIBLE TRUCK Filed Nov. 11, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l IIll llllllllll 1| Patented Qct. 20,1931 Q v njsoAisLE'rT, or ENNETT SQUARE; PENNSYLVANIA, AssrGNonTdmBnE 8 a eonrona ri on or "PENNSYLVANIA ,COLLAPSIIBLE TRUCK Application filed November 11,"1-9 29. Seria1 No. 406,387.

- embodiments or mechanical; expressions of my invention from amongi various other 7 forms, arrangements, combinations andconstructions otwhich the invention is: capable within the spirit and the scope thereof, I ki i 11a n genjeral typesfof trucksto which the present invention ,is particularly; directed I and with which it mainly deals; are the soocalleddmill types oftr'uck widely used and employed in, factories; mills,= warehouses,

stores, and such likepplajces, for'carrying,

transporting and moving merchandise and 8 materials from pointxftoiz point :7 therein.

'Such types of trucks. are generally wheeled I and-are manually pushed and propelled, and

guided. from place 'to place, usually under restricted space conditions so that they are subjected to'considerable wear andtearand general hard usage in operation, arising es-v peciallyfrom the continuousblows, collisions and other damaging. contacts and forces which they meet with in use. Hence, as essential requirements, these types of truck must be of a strong and durable design and construction to stand up under; the severe V 7 ,min mum space occupymg relatlon for conditions of use, yet must beof such a size RDClNVElgllt that they can be readily propeiled and 'easilyomaneuvered, and must not beota highor prohibitive cost,

A serious ditficulty and p'roblern encoun- ,tered in the manufacture and marketing'of such trucks, as well as in =their.0peration and maintenance by the user thereof, arises from the more or less bulky, andspace'occupying nature and character of these trucksii The, asssmbled trucks are of such .a size and bulk and occupy such space',that the cost of shipping andtransporting'isjvery high, aug- 'mented by the-further fact that the assem blecl trucks receive a, classif cation "for shipi j ping purposes whichbringsthem within the higher tariff rates, [so thatthe costs or "trucks to the user accordingly increased.

On-the other hand, because ofthe shipping costs, they market of the manufactureris v i I 'srncrnwr MANUFACTURING COMPANY, or xnnnm r saunas, ZIENNSYLVANIEA,

seriously restricted and limited, because of the prohibitive shipping and: transportation costs beyond certain distancesfrom thepoint ofmanufacture. 'Also,.thecost of properly packing the assembled trucks *for shipping, is a cost increasing item to'the user.- From the standpoint of; the user andaside fromthe shipping costs, the assembled trucks at their "points of use and when idle or stored, occupy I such a' space, particularly wherelarge numbers are required, as tob'e'cornea serious and costly item of waste space to the user.)

ltis a general object of thisinventionto practically eliminate and materially reduce the foregoingand other dificulties and problems, through the provision of adesign, co'nstructionand arrangement for-.trucks of the F.

types referred to, by which'such trucks can be'collapsed or knocked'down and packed for shipment in collapsed condition to form-a minimumsize, compact and durable package of a character to'receive the benefit of a lower 1 j range of transportation charges and which can be shipped at fmaterially reducedcost as compared to the assembled trucks "and by which a collapsed truck 1 can be] readily, quickly assembled; and set-up by; unskilled labor without the necessityfof specialtools.

sop

oriapparatus, or an assembled truck canibe e quickly collapsedand knocked 'downinto" a storage purposes. 7 V M A further object of the invention is to provide a design and construction of collapsible engagementto. form a rigid truck body, and

in whi h fthetruck bottom ,isflform'ed' a unitary. structure; for. receiving j and] onto ice v tion.

line 5 which the assembled sides and ends are-detachably secured and attached to complete the assembled truck, all with a minimum of structure, and a maximum strength and ri idity in truck forming assembled position, and capable of being quickly knocked down in a minimum of time by a small numberof operations, fromassembled position to collapsed, minimum space occupying; condition.

WVith the foregoing general objects and re sults in view, as well as certain others that will be readily recognized from the following truck embodying the several features of the invention, in assembled truckforming posi- Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the shipping package formed by and with the truck in collapsed orln' ocked down condition.

Fig.3 is a plan view of the under side of the truck bottom.

, Fig. 4; is a fragmentary view intop plan :of one end of the assembled truck, with the corners shown in horizontal section to bring out the interlocking, sliding connections between and rigidly joining the end wall and opposite side walls together.

Fig, 5 is ahorizont'al'section taken on the 5.ofFi g.1. j' Fig.6 isa horiz ontal section through the lower end of a corner ofv the truck. taken on the line 66, of Fig.1.

Fig. 7is 'a fragmentary viewin top plan of a corner of the truck bottoinunit, showing the corner formation of thefbottom frame.

Fig. 8 is a vertical section through one end of the truck taken on the line 88, of Fig; i. I Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the adjoining ends of a truck side wall and end wall, with .the sliding and interlocking truck corner post or member shown as being slid into assemble'd'position thereon rigidly locking the wall ends together. 7

Fig. 10 is afragnientary view. of the upper end portion of Fig. 9, with the corner post or memberremoved, and showing the corner 'post' engaging andinterl'ocking flange members carried by the walls.

I have selected. and illustrated and described herein, purely byway of example and'not of limitation, a form of mill truck "of the wheeled and manually propelled-and guided type, in whichthe principles and various features of the invention are embodied and incorporated} The selected form of truck an dthe particular mechanical exthroughout the pressions which the various features of the invention happen to take therein, are employed solely for the purpose of explaining and bringing to light the principles and the several features of the invention to enable those skilled in the art to comprehend and clearly understand the same. The invention is capable of embodiment in various other forms, not. only of mill trucks, but of various types oftrucks or vehicles generally, and in its broadest aspects contemplates and includes application to and embodiment in containers whether of the wheeled or inobile type or otherwise, where it is found desirable to render such a container collapsible. Obviously, the specific forms and constructions called for to adapt the invention to variousytypes of trucks and/or container's, will vary in accordance with the particular needs and'requirements of such types, respectively, and it is notintended or desired torestrict or confine, the invention to any of such specific forms and constructions.

In the illustrated example, referring now to the accompanying drawings, the selected form' of ,mill truck includes a bottom A, which, in this instance is formed of wood, although not so limited; the opposite side walls Band opposite end walls G, extending upwardly from andaround the bottom A, and joinedand connected at their adjacent and abutting ends,prespectively, to form the open top'truck body; L11Cl'tl16 Wl186l or caster units D- at the under side of bottom A. and upon whichthe truck rests and on which it can be pushed or propelled from place to place. The

truck'side-walls B and end walls C are formed in; the presentexample of truck, from sheet vulcanized fibre, so-called, which is of relatively light weight, yet which has the requisite 'rial suited or adapted to the purpose, and

it is not desired to in any way limit the invention to the character of material shown inthe example hereof.

In accordance with the principles of the invention. the truck is collapsible and can be 'knocked downor disassembled, by detach- 'ing and" disconnecting the side walls B and end walls C' from the truck bottom A, and

fromeach other, so that the truck is then separated into a bottom unit, and separate Side and'end wall units, which can be placed together into a compact, relatively small spaceoccupying group for'packaging' for shipment orstorage, as will be more fully ClGSOIllJGCl and explained hereinafter.

In the mechanical expression of the exam-- 7 hereof for carrying out the invention, the truck bottom A is provided with a metal an- -gle frame 10, rectangular in outline, and

edge of the bottomilto form an opentop groove or slot 10a (see Figg'i) extending completely around the bottom A' between the bottom edge and the frame vertical flange 12. This vertical flange--12'o'f'the bottom frame 10 in'this instance, extends a distance above the top or'u'pper surface of bottom A,

i although theginventionfis 'not'so limited :(see

' rying battens E (see FigsLSand 8), which in the present example are three in number; although not so limited flandare secured transversely across the under side of bottom- Fig; 8). For a purpose appearing herein; after, a portionv 12a of the vertical flange12 at and around each corner of the truck bottom A, is bent or offset outwardly from the general plane of the flange to increase the space between the fiange'and the adjacent edge and corner of the bottomA and provide an enlargementof the slot or'groove 10a at and a distance along eachside from thetorner to form a socket lObat and around each a corner of the truck particular.) v I,

The angle frame 10 is secured position on and around the truck bottom A by the series of transverse wheelimou'nting, and carbottomA- SeeFig. 7 in A over the-frame flange-11, at opposite ends and at an intermediate "point; respectively,

units l) are secured and mounted'on the battens E, by the bolts or the like E wlilchextend down throughthe truck bottom A,-battens E, and base plates D" ofthe units D,

e with certain of these bolts' E looated and extended downwardly through the frame horizontal flange 11, aswill be clear by ref erence to Figs. 3 and 8 of the drawings. The bottom frame 10 is thus secured in position on and attached to the truck bottom A bythe battens E and'bolts E. Thebolts E are 1nore or less permanently mounted in and through bottom A with th'eir upper'headed' ends preferably countersunk in the bottom A and w th their lower ends extended below the battens E to receive removable" wheel unit fastening nuts, so that the wheel units D can be removed from thetruck bottom unit when desired in collapsing or knockingdownthe truck, as will be readilyapparent from the together-and assembled. Each of the walls- Band G, is provided with 'a'flanged member 20' riveted or otherwise suitably secured to the outer sid-e thereofin' vertical position thereon along, adjacent, and parallel to each end edgeof the wall."- Referring now to Figs.

other suitable material, bent longitudinally along andfadjacent one longitudinal edge portion, backupon itself to *provi'dethe lone j gitudiiially disposed flange 21 extending "throughoutthe length of a member 20 The flangedmeinberQO at each end of a'wall B or C, is mounted with the flange 21 adjacent; the end edge ofthe wall but with the flange f9 and '10 of the drawingsin particularyeach f of thefwaltfianged membersQO, is 'formed ifrom alsu'i'table strip or length of metal or .turnedinwardly away from such Wall-edge.

The walls B and'C are assembledtogether into truck b dyLfOi'ming' relation-with the end walls C placed against and across and i a between thespaced-side walls Bland are then detachably' and 'collapsibly locked and Se} cured together at each corner by the corner "posts 30, respectively; Each cornerpost- 30 is formed of. an angle member 'havlng' the longitudinal outer edgeportions of its opposite flanges' bent back "upon themselves to form the inwardly 'extendedy opposite side flanges 31 '(seeFig SJ in particular) IAcor-I ner post member 3011s placed 1nto position over each corner formed by the adjacent and into position with flanges 31 and 21'interlocked and'securing and rigidly locking the abuttingIends of the w allsB and cybyin I I I I sorting-oneend'thereofover'the endstofthe 1 adj mat spaced: wall members 20 at opposite i sides of acorner,withthecornerpost flanges 519 I overand reeeived under the flanges 21 of wall memb-erSQO, and'then sliding the cornerpost ",(lownover and onto the wall members-'20 of the 'truclrbottoim The wheel or'f casterf walls B and .0 together at the corners formed therebetween by the abutting ends of walls Band C; respectively.

With the wallsB andC assembled and se-' eurea into truck body forming relation by the, corner posts 30, the truck body thus formed is'placed onto the truck bottom A,

with thebottom edges of walls B and (l fitting and received into the groove or slot lOa formed around the bottom between thebot tom frame vertical flange 12: and the edge of bottomA, and the lower ends "oftho corner posts 30'received and fitted into the sockets 10?) formed by the frame-10 at and around each cornerof the bottom.

The truck body formed the rigidly connected walls B and portions" 12ctof bottom frameflange 12'andv I ple as rivets 32 extended through .the offset the lower ends of the interlocked corner posts 30 and flanged members 20, and bysuitable fastening elements 33 extendedat spaced l-litervals throughthe bottom frame flange'lQ said corner posts sli b y engaged Over the said bottom unit',and,corner members slid ably and removablygengagedi" with a and, lock and forming anopentop groove therearound,

truck supporting'members removablymount r the said frame to the bottom unit.-.

ed onthe under side of said bottom unit, and

truck side and-end walls detachab-ly secured onsaid botto'm'unit with "the lowerends of said walls received and seated in said groove. collapsible truck, abottom unit, truck supporting members removably attached to the under side of said unit, opposite side and end walls detachably mounted onsaid bottomunit, corner members slidably; and removably engaged with and detachably securing adj acent endsaof said wallstogether into body forming. relation, and the lower 7 ends of said, corner members removably at-- tached to the bottom unit.

4. In a collapsible truck, a bottom forming unit providing a bottom wall for' the truck body, opposite side and end wall units detachably secured on said bottom unit and providing with the bottom unit an open top, truck body, each of said wall units provided-with a vertically disposed inwardly turned flange along and adjacent each vertical end edge thereof, respectively, and vertical corner posts removably fitted over and interlocking with the vertical flanges at adjacent' ends of said wall units, respectively, to detachably connect and secure the wall units in truck body forming position, said'cornerposts vertically slidable from interlocking position to detach the side and end walls for removalv from the bottom unit to collapse the truck.

5. In a collapsible truck, a bottom forming unit adjacent the end vertical edge thereof,

respectively,and corner posts each formed of i an angle'member having its opposite walls formed to provide longitudinally disposed inwardly turned and opposite flanges, the

adjacent but spaced flanges at each corner formed by the adjacent wall ends, respective ly, with the corner p'ostflanges interlocking with said wall flanges, respectively,to connect and secure the wall units in body forming position, and said corner postsvertically slidable and completely removable from'position connecting the wall units for detachment of the units to collapse the truck.

6. In a collapsible truck, a truck-bottom unit, iincluding;a bottom frame extending ELIOllIld Sf lldl unitandiorminganopen top- 'groove:therearound,,body forming opposite side. andend wall: members received and dc; I

tafchably secured at their lower ends in said groove,,and wheel mounting members securedv transversely across the underside of said bottom unit and securing and binding i ,7, In a collapsible truck, a truck bottom side side and iend walls arranged in truck unit including a bottom frame-extending around the exterior of and formingan'open;

I top groovearound said bottom unit with the I body Jforming position on said bottom unity with vtheir lower ends removably receivedin said groove, and vertical cornerposts del tachably connecting the adj acent' corner" forming ends of said walls together to'maintain the walls in position, the lower ends of said corner posts received anddetachably' secured in said cornerlsockets'formed in the bottom unit groove;

- I .t 190 i 8. In a collapsible truck, a bottomunit including an angle frame disposediarjound the exterior of the bottom with itsphorizontah I flangedisposed thereunder and its vertical flange spaced outwardly from the edge ofthe bottom to form an 'opentop groove around the bottom, Wheel mounting battens secured transversely across the under side of the bot; tom over the frame horizontal flange and securingitheframe in position, and truck body-forming side and end walls detachably' secured onsaid,bottomunitwith their lowerv ends seated and received in said open top groove.

9. In a collapsible truck of the InilPtype,

a vbottom forming unit, truck supporting wheel members-detachablymounted .on the under; side of said bottom unit, separate opposite side and end wall unitsdetachably mountedand secured at their lower ends to said bottom unit in upwardly extending openand-members detachably and rigidly connect ing the adjacent wall unit ends, respectively, to rigidly secure the wall units in body form-l ing rfposition, said wall unit end connecting members removablelfrom the Wall units to l disconnect such" units 'for' collapsing the truck. s

p l 10. In a collapsible truck of the milltype,' a bottoinforming unit, separate oppositeside and. end wallunits detachably mounted at 7 their lower ends to said bottom unit in up wardly extending: open-top truck body forming; position there'around, vertical corner members detachably and rigidly connecting the adjacent wall-unit ends; respectively, to

secure the-wall units in body forming positi'on, said corner members detachably secured 'atth'eir lower ends to said bottom unit, and

a top band or rim secured on and around the 1 upper ends oi said wall units, said band comprising separatesections secured to each wall.

' unit, respectively, disposed in the same hori- *zontal plane with the units in connected posi-' tion, and'corner'members detachably secured overand' connecting adjacent ends, respectively, of'said band sections.

11. In a collapsible truck of the mill type, a-truck bottom forming unit, separate opposite side and end forming wall units detachably mounted at their lower ends to said bottom unit in upwardly extending open-top truck body forming position, corner posts slidably fitted over and interlocking with the adjacent wall units ends for rigidly removably' connecting and securing said wall units together in body forming position, and a reinforcing band extending horizontally around a ,i the truck body formed by said wall units,

around, and corner posts slidably fitting over I and engaging and interlocking with the adjacent wall unit ends, respectively, for rigidly removably connecting and joining said separate wall units together in body forming .position, the said corner posts detachably secured at their lower ends to the bottom unit and readily slidably removable when detached from said bottom unit to release and detach said separate wall units.

13. In a collapsible truck, a truck bottom unit, including a bottom frame extending around saidunit and forming an open top groove therearound, body forming opposite side and end wall members removably received and mounted at their lowerendsin sald v groove, vertical corner post membersslidably and removably engaged over and connecting ad acent ends of the side and end wall members, respectively, said corner post members extending at their lower ends into the bottom unit groove and detachably secured to the bottom unit, and wheel mounting mem- I bers at the under side of the bottom unit over and across said bottom unit frame.

l4. In a collapsible truck of the mill type, a truck bottom unitformed with an open top groove therearound, truck body forming oppositeiside and end walls removably seated at their lower ends in thebottom unit groove, vertical corner posts; res

movably engaged over and connecting adj acentends of said side and end walls, respectively', the lower ends of said corner posts detachably secured to the bottom unit, said corner posts with thei rlowerends detached from the bottom Iunit vertically slidable fromsid'e and end wall engaged positions to completely removed positions for collapse of the truck.

15. In a collapsible truck, a truck bottom unit, separate opposite side and end forming wall units detachably mounted at their lower ends to said bottom unit in upwardly extending open-top truck body forming position thereon, corner posts slidably fitted over and engaging adjacent wall unit ends for removably connecting and securing said wall units together in body forming position, and a reinforcing band extending horizontally around the truck body, said band comprising a separate section attached to each wall unit and undercut at its opposite ends to extend over the adjacent corner posts, respectively, to provide for tree insertion and removal of said posts to and from wall unit securing position,

Signed at Kennett Square, Pa, this 7th day of November, 1929.

"GEORGE B. SCARLETT. 

